Live stream Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Where to watch El Clasico online and on TV Vinicius Jr. meets Raphinha

After the seemingly hopeless end to Real Madrid's dominance in Spain last season, El Clasico returns on Saturday with the promise of more even competition between two teams featuring some in-form all-stars.

Real Madrid's qualities are evident ahead of Saturday's home game: last season they beat Barcelona in both Clasicos before winning La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, completing a victory lap Sign Kylian Mbappe over the summer. However, in a fascinating twist, Barcelona come to Madrid with a success all their own. The managerial drama and tight money chaos of the summer have given way to a strong start under new boss Hansi Flick, who himself has a top-class squad – and that surprisingly the strongest player in Europe.

It's gearing up for a fascinating edition of one of sport's most storied rivalries, one that will present the biggest challenge of the season so far for both sides. Here's what you need to know before you tune in.

How to watch and ratings

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 26 | Time: 3pm ET
• Location: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – Madrid, Spain
• Live stream: ESPN+
• Opportunities: Real Madrid +100; Draw +290; Barcelona +230

Vinicius Junior's big week

It's a new Galacticos era for Real Madrid, with players like Mbappe and Jude Bellingham having played a big role so far this season. However, one star shines brighter than all others – Vinicius Junior.

The Brazil international has scored five goals and five assists in 14 games across all competitions and added a midweek hat-trick to his tally. His multi-goal performance on Tuesday played a crucial role in the 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, highlighting what it means to be a great player. He bailed his team out of trouble with a handy equalizer but added style points with not one but two brilliant solo tries to end the game.

However, Tuesday's performance is just the latest in a string of meaningful performances from Vinicius. He has now scored in two Champions League finals – 2022 and 2024, with the latter serving as the basis for his case for winning the Ballon d'Or. Vinicius is considered a leading candidate for the award after a 24-goal season for Real Madrid and could become the first player to stake his claim as the best player in the world after the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era. He will be joined by Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and teammate Luka Modric, who won the award in 2018, although he is nominated along with six other teammates.

Therefore, the hat-trick against Dortmund and a strong performance in El Clasico could serve as the perfect opening act for the career-defining moment that could come at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris. However, with or without the award, Real Madrid will undoubtedly be counting on Vinicius to play a big role on Saturday. The hosts will be without Rodrygo, who has three goals and two assists this season, as well as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who will have to do his best to put the game out of reach.

Raphinha's star is born

At the start of the season it was difficult to estimate Barcelona's ceiling. Several years after the start of the financial crisis, which limited their transfer strategy, they were well behind the big-spending Real Madrid, and the surprise coaching change with Hansi Flick for Xavi only added to the chaos. Nevertheless, for the first time in a long time, everything seems to be fine for Barcelona. Flick's team is one of the most impressive in Europe at the moment, passing almost every test that comes their way.

The biggest test so far came on Wednesday when they beat Bayern Munich 4-1, thanks largely to their surprise star of the season – Raphinha. While rising talent Lamine Yamal and veteran Robert Lewandowski have also made bright starts, Raphinha managed to eclipse them with a hat-trick on Wednesday. It was an outstanding performance for the Brazil international, who is now averaging a goal or assist every 71.5 minutes for Barcelona this season and is perhaps the most in-form player in Europe's top five leagues.

It's an incredibly impressive performance from Raphina, whose move from Leeds United in 2022 was more an example of Barcelona's strange spending patterns than a sign of shrewd business. He failed to score in his first 10 Champions League games, but in recent months he has shown his skills and developed into a more involved member of the team under Flick. With nine goals and six assists already this season, all eyes will be on the Brazil international to see if he can continue his winning streak – and perhaps lead Barcelona to their biggest win of the season.

El Clasico statistics

All-time record

• 111 Real Madrid wins
• 125 Barcelona wins
• 64 draw

Goals scored

• 525 Barcelona goals
• 489 Real Madrid goals

Most appearances

1. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), 48 games
T-2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Serigo Ramos (Real Madrid), 45 games
4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), 43 games
T-5. Paco Gento (Real Madrid), Manuel Sanchis (Real Madrid) and Xavi (Barcelona), 42 games
8. Gerard Pique (Barcelona), 40 games
9. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), 38 games
T-10. Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid), Raul (Real Madrid) and Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), 37 games

Top scorers

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona), 26 goals
T-2. Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), 18 goals
4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), 16 goals
5. Raul (Real Madrid), 15 goals
T-6. Cesar (Barcelona), Paco Gento (Real Madrid) and Ferenc Puskas (Real Madrid), 14 goals
9. Santillana (Real Madrid), 12 goals
10. Luis Suarez (Barcelona), 11 goals